The Philadelphia Sixers need Paul George to have a comeback season for the ages in 2025-26, but it's already started on the wrong foot (or knee). ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported two weeks ago that the 35-year-old had an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee after he got injured during a workout. He'll be re-evaluated before training camp.
It is likely that George will miss the Sixers' season opener for the second consecutive year, which isn't what the team had in mind when they signed him to a four-year deal last summer in free agency. Based on what Tim Bontemps said, George will be out for more than the season opener.
On the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast, Windhorst, Bontemps, and Tim MacMahon reacted to ESPN's win totals for next season. Bontemps took the under on the Sixers' win total (43.5), saying that it seems like George will be out for "quite a while." He also cited the uncertainty about Joel Embiid's health.
Paul George's second season with Sixers is already off to a bad start
Next season will be the time for Philadelphia to make its push to the conference finals with Embiid, with the East wide open. The Sixers signed Paul George less than a year after trading James Harden to the Clippers, as they needed another star to pair alongside Embiid. They thought he'd help them reach their championship aspirations.
The partnership between George and Philadelphia didn't yield the results Daryl Morey wanted in year one, with George averaging 16.2 points per game, his lowest since the 2014-15 season, when he played only eight games for the Pacers. Injuries cut George's season to 41 games, far short of the 74 he played the year before in LA.
The Sixers knew the risk they were taking when they signed George last year, but they were optimistic that things would work in Philly. So far, they've been worse than imagined. It doesn't look like it's going to get better, with the more that comes out about George, the less there is to be hopeful about.
All fans can do is hope that his recovery goes well and that he doesn't encounter any setbacks. Even when he does return, it will take some time for him to get back up to speed. George will have to ease back into things.
Go ahead and prepare for him to miss more time than you might think; that way, you won't be disappointed.